Background to this inspection
Updated
19 October 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
One adult social care inspector and an expert by experience carried out the inspection. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience had experience of caring for older people and people with ongoing health conditions.
Prior to this inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are required to be submitted by the provider to the Care Quality Commission to advise of important events. We spoke with the local authority to gain their feedback about the care people received. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced when accessing the service.
During the inspection, we visited seven people in their own homes. We spoke with a further 13 people who used the service and nine relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager and 21 members of staff. We looked at the care records of 21 people, training and recruitment records of 10 staff members, records relating to the administration of medicines and the management of the service.
We looked at what quality audit tools and data management systems the provider had. We reviewed past and present staff rotas, focusing on how staff provided care within a geographical area. We looked at how many visits a staff member had completed per day and if the registered provider ensured staff had enough time to travel between visits. We looked at the continuity of support people received.
Updated
19 October 2017
The inspection visit at Carewatch (Blackpool) was undertaken on 01, 05, 11 and 12 September 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the service delivered domiciliary care to people living in the community. We needed to be sure people in the office and people the service supported would be available to speak to us.
Carewatch (Blackpool) provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. The agency is situated in the south of Blackpool close to the airport. The office is on the ground floor and is accessible to anyone with mobility problems. At the time of our inspection there were 440 people receiving a service from Carewatch (Blackpool).
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We have made a recommendation about consulting people and reviewing visit times.
During this inspection, we found staff had received training to recognise abuse. They understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care or abusive practices related to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Staff we spoke with told us they were aware of the safeguarding procedure.
Care plans were organised and had identified the care and support people required. We found they were personalised and informative about the care people received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary. They reflected any risks and people’s changing needs.
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they were competent and had the skills required.
The provider had procedures around recruitment and selection to minimise the risk of unsuitable employees working with vulnerable people. Required checks had been completed prior to any staff commencing work at the service. This was confirmed during discussions with staff.
We found staffing levels were suitable with an appropriate skill mix to meet the needs of people who used the service. The number of people who were supported and their individual needs determined staffing levels.
Staff members received training related to their role and were knowledgeable about their responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
People and their representatives told us they were involved in their care and had discussed and consented to their care packages. We found staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
When appropriate meals and drinks were prepared for people. This ensured people received adequate nutrition and hydration.
Staff we spoke with understood the support needs of people they visited. They knew how individuals wanted their care to be delivered.
A complaints procedure was available and people we spoke with said they knew how to complain. We saw examples where a complaint had been received, responded to, investigated and the outcome documented.
The registered manager had sought feedback from people receiving support and staff for input on how the service could continually improve. Since the last inspection, the provider had increased the management team. They had introduced the role of senior carer. Staff spoken with felt the management team were accessible, supportive and approachable and would listen and act on concerns raised.